Okänd soldat / The Unknown Soldier.
FI 1985. PC: Arctic-Filmi. P+D: Rauni Mollberg. Assistant directors: Veikko Aaltonen, Seppo Heinonen. SC: Rauni Mollberg, Väinö Linna, Veikko Aaltonen - based on the novel by Linna (1954). DP: Esa Vuorinen. PD: Ensio Suominen. Sound: Tuomo Kattilakoski, Oscari Viskari. Sound editing: Matti Kuortti, Olli Soinio; Lars Klettner.
Starring Risto Tuorila (Koskela), Pirkka-Pekka Petelius (Hietanen), Paavo Liski (Rokka), Mika Mäkelä (Rahikainen), Pertti Koivula (Lahtinen), Tero Niva (Vanhala), Ossi-Ensio Korvuo (Määttä), Mikko Niskanen [not the director] (Salo), Pauli Poranen (Lehto), Hannu Kivioja (Riitaoja), Juha Riihimäki (Sihvonen) Seppo Siivonen (Suen Tassu), Timo Virkki (Honkajoki), Vesa Ala-Seppälä (Hauhia), Kari Väänänen (Lammio), Pekka Ketonen (Kariluoto), Veikko Tiitinen (Kaarna), Matti Nurminen (Sarastie), Olavi Levula (Karjula), Martti Kainulainen (Korsumäki), Jaakko Kuusisaari (Mäkilä), Erkki Hetta (Viirilä), Markku Lukka (Ukkola), Risto Salmi (Korpela), Eppu Nuotio = Eija-Riitta Rantanen (lotta Kotilainen). 199 min.
This screening 195 min. A clean and intact print.
In the presence of Olli Soinio, Matti Kuortti, Tuomo Kattilakoski, and Risto Salmi.
Viewed at Domino, Turku Festival of Finnish Film: tribute to Rauni Mollberg in the presence of Rauni Mollberg (not on stage in this screening), 10 April 2005.
Starring Risto Tuorila (Koskela), Pirkka-Pekka Petelius (Hietanen), Paavo Liski (Rokka), Mika Mäkelä (Rahikainen), Pertti Koivula (Lahtinen), Tero Niva (Vanhala), Ossi-Ensio Korvuo (Määttä), Mikko Niskanen [not the director] (Salo), Pauli Poranen (Lehto), Hannu Kivioja (Riitaoja), Juha Riihimäki (Sihvonen) Seppo Siivonen (Suen Tassu), Timo Virkki (Honkajoki), Vesa Ala-Seppälä (Hauhia), Kari Väänänen (Lammio), Pekka Ketonen (Kariluoto), Veikko Tiitinen (Kaarna), Matti Nurminen (Sarastie), Olavi Levula (Karjula), Martti Kainulainen (Korsumäki), Jaakko Kuusisaari (Mäkilä), Erkki Hetta (Viirilä), Markku Lukka (Ukkola), Risto Salmi (Korpela), Eppu Nuotio = Eija-Riitta Rantanen (lotta Kotilainen). 199 min.
This screening 195 min. A clean and intact print.
In the presence of Olli Soinio, Matti Kuortti, Tuomo Kattilakoski, and Risto Salmi.
Viewed at Domino, Turku Festival of Finnish Film: tribute to Rauni Mollberg in the presence of Rauni Mollberg (not on stage in this screening), 10 April 2005.
PS. 5 Dec 2023. I revisited the long version in 2019 with a much kinder assessment.
There are different versions of this film; this is the official cinema version; there is also a five-hour television version. Previously I had seen the tv version only. In the 1980s it was the thing in Finland to redo the big classics, The Unknown Soldier and The Seven Brothers: to take away the drama, the wit, the humour, and put young unknown actors there to open the well-known texts afresh. Here the apparent intention was to do the anti-Laine version.
The film is darkly lit, handheld camera is much in evidence, the dialogue is muffled, the approach is undramatic, humour is avoided. However, there is not as much naturalistic and grotesque footage as one might have suspected.
Scenes more effective here include the crossing of the river during the attack, the occupation of Petroskoi, and the frenzy of the retreat.
Characters present here but not with Laine include Lieutenant Colonel Karjula, private Viirilä, and WAC Kotilainen.
Of the main characters Petelius as Hietanen and Väänänen as Lammio stand out as not weaker than the interpretation in the film of Laine.
Undoubtedly superior in this film is the sound, which is often genuinely frightening, adding much to the whole. As the cinematography is dark and the faces often unrecognizable, the impact of the sound is all the greater.
There are different versions of this film; this is the official cinema version; there is also a five-hour television version. Previously I had seen the tv version only. In the 1980s it was the thing in Finland to redo the big classics, The Unknown Soldier and The Seven Brothers: to take away the drama, the wit, the humour, and put young unknown actors there to open the well-known texts afresh. Here the apparent intention was to do the anti-Laine version.
The film is darkly lit, handheld camera is much in evidence, the dialogue is muffled, the approach is undramatic, humour is avoided. However, there is not as much naturalistic and grotesque footage as one might have suspected.
Scenes more effective here include the crossing of the river during the attack, the occupation of Petroskoi, and the frenzy of the retreat.
Characters present here but not with Laine include Lieutenant Colonel Karjula, private Viirilä, and WAC Kotilainen.
Of the main characters Petelius as Hietanen and Väänänen as Lammio stand out as not weaker than the interpretation in the film of Laine.
Undoubtedly superior in this film is the sound, which is often genuinely frightening, adding much to the whole. As the cinematography is dark and the faces often unrecognizable, the impact of the sound is all the greater.
PS. 5 Dec 2023. It was my birthday, and I offered the guests a glass of sparkling wine. Rauni Mollberg (1929-2007) was present, but not on stage for The Unknown Soldier. We knew that Mr. Mollberg was planning a new film adaptation of Jääkärin morsian and I toasted him with a quote from "Jääkärin laulu": " Elon mainingit korkeina käyvät " ["the waves of life are rolling high"]. He answered without missing a beat: " Niiden kuohuissa kulkee mun tie " ["through their surf I break my way"].
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